Neuroscience

How to make good decisions when you’re paralyzed by the stress of protests and the pandemic – WMTW Portland

Do you find it tough to make decisions these days? What used to be no-brainers, stopping at the grocery for bread and milk, making a pit stop at the gas station or meeting friends for dinner and drinks are now fraught with dangers.Are people wearing masks at the grocery and keeping their carts at a proper distance of 6 feet? Did you bring gloves or hand sanitizer for the gas pump? Will the restaurant have outdoor socially distant seating and just how does one eat with a mask?And now we're fighting back tears and struggling with rage over the killing of George Floyd, the unarmed and handcuffed black man in Minneapolis who died after gasping "I can't breathe" as a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck."It's crazy times, with protests and a pandemic and things at every level appearing untrustworthy," said biochemist Bita Moghaddam, who chairs the behavioral neuroscience department in the school of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University.Moghaddam, who studies how anxiety affects the brain, said it's no wonder our stressed, overworked brains can't spit out a decision. We have become victims of "analysis paralysis.""We don't know exactly what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month," Daphna Shohamy, who is a professor of psychology at Columbia University, told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a recent podcast.And we're all forced to make decisions in that state of uncertainty and to just rely on what we do know, which is not good enough," said Shohamy, who studies the cognitive neuroscience of learning, memory and decision-making."I notice it myself all the time," Gupta said in the podcast. "As simple as choosing a tie in the morning, what I'm going to have for lunch, whether I'm going to go for a run or a bike ride."Those were decisions that usually took me just a few seconds, and now sometimes I just find myself struggling," he said.How the brain makes decisionsThe headquarters for our decision-making capabilities is the prefrontal cortex, which controls our higher-level executive functions. Those include focusing our attention, creating and organizing thoughts, setting goals, planning actions and putting a stop to impulsive thoughts and behaviors.Under normal or mild stress conditions, the brain uses "working memory" to regulate our mood and actions from the top down. Working memory marries recent events with memories from long-term storage about what we learned from any experience, and it uses this to make decisions about how we should act, think and feel based on our experiences. And, of course, it helps us anticipate and predict possible consequences from our actions."The brain is constantly estimating risk," Moghaddam said."I'm hungry. I'm going to get up and drive to a pizzeria to grab some pizza. But driving involves risk because you could get into an accident," she said. "If you're suffering from anxiety disorders, you may say, 'No, I'm not going to even risk getting in the car because I couldn't relax.' If you're drunk, then the risk is even higher. And it becomes a computation game."It takes the first quarter of life for the decision-making area of the brain to fully mature in humans. Car rental companies recognize that fact and won't rent to anyone under 25.Other key milestones, such as a driver's license at age 16, voting at 18 and drinking at 21 occur when the brain's ability to make good decisions isn't fully baked.The prefrontal cortex is also the area of the brain that is most sensitive to stress. Even mild stress can cause "rapid and dramatic loss of prefrontal cognitive abilities," while prolonged stress can actually change the brain, according to Amy Arnsten, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Yale School of Medicine.When we are stressed all the time, certain neurotransmitters go awry, flooding the brain with chemicals that change the structure and functioning of the prefrontal cortex and the fight-or-flight emotion and memory centers of the brain. Working memory suffers, and our ability to make quick or well-thought-out decisions declines."In general, decision-making slows down," Moghaddam said. "You could argue it's better for our survival. You learned driving when it's icy is dangerous, you shouldn't be drinking and driving, and you've learned that this virus could kill you."The combo of stress with increased risk is making it much harder to make decisions during the pandemic."If you think about going to the grocery store right now, there's a fair amount of planning consciously or subconsciously what times will be less crowded, do I really need to go, and should I go," Moghaddam said. "Most of us didn't think of going to a grocery store as a dangerous thing before, yet now it has become an anxiety-provoking process."What to do next?Give your brain a break from its constant risk calculations.Try to take 10 to 15 minutes to close your eyes and meditate, pushing all of your worries and decisions to the side during that time.You can see physical changes in the brain in a short time, said psychology and psychiatry professor Richard Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.Davidson did a randomized controlled trial of people who've never meditated before. Using direct measures of brain function and structure, he found it only took 30 minutes a day of meditation practice over the course of two weeks to produce a measurable change in the brain.There are other anxiety-busting activities that can help. Practice good sleep hygiene to improve your sleep quality, one of the best things you can do to ease stress and boost your mood.Studies show exercising at a moderate but not high intensity for 15 to 30 minutes at least three times a week does wonders for stress. Try rhythmic exercises, such as running, swimming, cycling and walking, to get your blood pumping in major muscle groups.Something as simple as taking deep, slow breaths can do amazing things to our brain and therefore our stress and anxiety, said Dr. Cynthia Ackrill, an editor for Contentment magazine, produced by the American Institute of Stress."When you physiologically calm yourself, you actually change your brainwaves," Ackrill said.Yoga, tai chi and qi gong are spiritual disciplines, designed to meld body and mind. A yoga lifestyle incorporates physical postures, breath regulation and mindfulness through the practice of meditation. Brain scans of people using tai chi and qi gong find increased alpha, beta and theta brain wave activity, suggesting increased relaxation and attentiveness.And finally, stop criticizing your brain for its indecisiveness."Why are we so worried about being paralyzed?" Moghaddam asked. "It's normal for a brain to take its time to make a decision. The brain is actually doing its job."

Do you find it tough to make decisions these days? What used to be no-brainers, stopping at the grocery for bread and milk, making a pit stop at the gas station or meeting friends for dinner and drinks are now fraught with dangers.

Are people wearing masks at the grocery and keeping their carts at a proper distance of 6 feet? Did you bring gloves or hand sanitizer for the gas pump? Will the restaurant have outdoor socially distant seating and just how does one eat with a mask?

And now we're fighting back tears and struggling with rage over the killing of George Floyd, the unarmed and handcuffed black man in Minneapolis who died after gasping "I can't breathe" as a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck.

"It's crazy times, with protests and a pandemic and things at every level appearing untrustworthy," said biochemist Bita Moghaddam, who chairs the behavioral neuroscience department in the school of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University.

Moghaddam, who studies how anxiety affects the brain, said it's no wonder our stressed, overworked brains can't spit out a decision. We have become victims of "analysis paralysis."

"We don't know exactly what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month," Daphna Shohamy, who is a professor of psychology at Columbia University, told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a recent podcast.

And we're all forced to make decisions in that state of uncertainty and to just rely on what we do know, which is not good enough," said Shohamy, who studies the cognitive neuroscience of learning, memory and decision-making.

"I notice it myself all the time," Gupta said in the podcast. "As simple as choosing a tie in the morning, what I'm going to have for lunch, whether I'm going to go for a run or a bike ride.

"Those were decisions that usually took me just a few seconds, and now sometimes I just find myself struggling," he said.

The headquarters for our decision-making capabilities is the prefrontal cortex, which controls our higher-level executive functions. Those include focusing our attention, creating and organizing thoughts, setting goals, planning actions and putting a stop to impulsive thoughts and behaviors.

Under normal or mild stress conditions, the brain uses "working memory" to regulate our mood and actions from the top down. Working memory marries recent events with memories from long-term storage about what we learned from any experience, and it uses this to make decisions about how we should act, think and feel based on our experiences. And, of course, it helps us anticipate and predict possible consequences from our actions.

"The brain is constantly estimating risk," Moghaddam said.

"I'm hungry. I'm going to get up and drive to a pizzeria to grab some pizza. But driving involves risk because you could get into an accident," she said. "If you're suffering from anxiety disorders, you may say, 'No, I'm not going to even risk getting in the car because I couldn't relax.' If you're drunk, then the risk is even higher. And it becomes a computation game."

It takes the first quarter of life for the decision-making area of the brain to fully mature in humans. Car rental companies recognize that fact and won't rent to anyone under 25.

Other key milestones, such as a driver's license at age 16, voting at 18 and drinking at 21 occur when the brain's ability to make good decisions isn't fully baked.

The prefrontal cortex is also the area of the brain that is most sensitive to stress. Even mild stress can cause "rapid and dramatic loss of prefrontal cognitive abilities," while prolonged stress can actually change the brain, according to Amy Arnsten, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Yale School of Medicine.

When we are stressed all the time, certain neurotransmitters go awry, flooding the brain with chemicals that change the structure and functioning of the prefrontal cortex and the fight-or-flight emotion and memory centers of the brain. Working memory suffers, and our ability to make quick or well-thought-out decisions declines.

"In general, decision-making slows down," Moghaddam said. "You could argue it's better for our survival. You learned driving when it's icy is dangerous, you shouldn't be drinking and driving, and you've learned that this virus could kill you."

The combo of stress with increased risk is making it much harder to make decisions during the pandemic.

"If you think about going to the grocery store right now, there's a fair amount of planning consciously or subconsciously what times will be less crowded, do I really need to go, and should I go," Moghaddam said. "Most of us didn't think of going to a grocery store as a dangerous thing before, yet now it has become an anxiety-provoking process."

Give your brain a break from its constant risk calculations.

Try to take 10 to 15 minutes to close your eyes and meditate, pushing all of your worries and decisions to the side during that time.

You can see physical changes in the brain in a short time, said psychology and psychiatry professor Richard Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Davidson did a randomized controlled trial of people who've never meditated before. Using direct measures of brain function and structure, he found it only took 30 minutes a day of meditation practice over the course of two weeks to produce a measurable change in the brain.

There are other anxiety-busting activities that can help. Practice good sleep hygiene to improve your sleep quality, one of the best things you can do to ease stress and boost your mood.

Studies show exercising at a moderate but not high intensity for 15 to 30 minutes at least three times a week does wonders for stress. Try rhythmic exercises, such as running, swimming, cycling and walking, to get your blood pumping in major muscle groups.

Something as simple as taking deep, slow breaths can do amazing things to our brain and therefore our stress and anxiety, said Dr. Cynthia Ackrill, an editor for Contentment magazine, produced by the American Institute of Stress.

"When you physiologically calm yourself, you actually change your brainwaves," Ackrill said.

Yoga, tai chi and qi gong are spiritual disciplines, designed to meld body and mind. A yoga lifestyle incorporates physical postures, breath regulation and mindfulness through the practice of meditation. Brain scans of people using tai chi and qi gong find increased alpha, beta and theta brain wave activity, suggesting increased relaxation and attentiveness.

And finally, stop criticizing your brain for its indecisiveness.

"Why are we so worried about being paralyzed?" Moghaddam asked. "It's normal for a brain to take its time to make a decision. The brain is actually doing its job."

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How to make good decisions when you're paralyzed by the stress of protests and the pandemic - WMTW Portland

Neuroscience

Brain Mapping Instruments Market Recent developments in the competitive landscape forecast 2018 2026 – Cole of Duty

The utilization of brain mapping instruments has expanded because of increasing occurrences of brain ailments in different parts of the world. Increasing health concerns and enhanced healthcare infrastructure are a few of the foremost aspects driving the expansion of the worldwide market for brain mapping instruments. Furthermore, an increasing number of diagnostics centers is likewise driving the expansion of the market. Nonetheless, poor healthcare insurance coverage and high expenses related to the brain mapping procedure are limiting the expansion of the worldwide market for brain mapping instruments. Also, lack of helium for magnetic resonance imaging systems, saturation in mature markets and technological constraints related to independent systems are likewise constraining expansion of the worldwide market.

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High affecting aspects, for example, continuous brain mapping investigation and examination projects, neuroscience-based activities by government bodies as well as technological progressions in algorithms and tools which are applied in neuroscience space are considered to enhance the market expansion. These variables are foreseen to support revenue generation by impelling the product implementation in this market over the years to follow.

The existence of institutes & organizations, for example, NIH, University of Utah, NeuroScience Canada, Ontario Brain Institute, Max Planck Florida Institute, along with the University of Pennsylvania; in the space are anticipated to significantly affect the advancement of neuroscience field. These entities act a significant part in quickening neuroscience-based r&d to enhance patient results in those suffering from neurological ailments.

Various activities are embraced by the healthcare communities to take cerebrum related innovations and studies above and beyond. For example, in 2014, the University of Utah presented the Neuroscience Initiative keeping in mind the end goal to help mitigate the staggering impacts of brain disorders. The launch was made for developing the understanding of the impacts of brain disorders on wellbeing and channelizing the learning into inventive solutions for patient care.

Constant presentation of new products by prominent market players in the market to the battle different neurological issue will probably support the Y-O-Y development of this market. For example, in September 2015, Codman Neuro (functioning unit of DePuy Synthes) presented CODMAN CERTAS plus programmable valve, an MRI-safe programmable valve along with eight dissimilar weight settings.

Moreover, key aspects that have quickened the research studies about in this field is the development of a number of different harmful CNS issues, for example, Alzheimers and Parkinsonism sickness. As geriatric populace is inclined to different central sensory systems related disorders, for example, Alzheimers, schizophrenia and Parkinsonism with the rise in the aging populace, this market is foreseen to see lucrative development.

The requirement for minimally invasive, more precise along with manifold neuron recording system is additionally anticipated that would drive r&d of hardware and software utilized for neuro-scientific analyses. This, thusly, is considered to reinforce the overall product portfolio accessible in the market and enhance revenues all through the years to come.

Enhancing healthcare infrastructure in developing nations, for example, India and China would generate prospects for the worldwide market for brain mapping instruments. Expanding implementation of refurbished diagnostic imaging systems would represent a challenge for expansion of the mind-brain mapping instruments market globally. A few of the foremost companies functioning in the global market are Philips Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Natus Medical, Inc and Siemens Healthcare. Other market players active in the market are Nihon Kohden Corporation, Covidien, PLC., and Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc.

Partnerships and collaboration are preferred as a feasible strategy to remain competitory in the market by foremost companies. Companies are engrossed in strategic alliances outside the region and within the region, which helps the expansion of both the parties along with the connected regional market.

Covid 19 Impact [emailprotected] https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/3249

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Brain Mapping Instruments Market Recent developments in the competitive landscape forecast 2018 2026 - Cole of Duty

Neuroscience

Chemical messenger in brain could point to better treatments for anxiety – Folio – University of Alberta

New research by a University of Alberta neuroscientist reveals more about how the mechanism the brain uses to regulate our response to stress could lead to better treatments for anxiety.

Bill Colmers and his team discovered that two chemical messengerscorticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)work in a synchronized opposition to one another to remodel and rewire neurons in a part of the brain responsible for emotions, called the amygdala, as part of the bodys natural response to stress.

The research not only shows the change is occurring in the amygdala, but also reveals the process can be manually reversed, said Colmers.

Anxiety disorders represent a huge unmet medical need. Any new information we can gather in relation to understanding the mechanisms involved with anxiety provides new targets for possible drug development, said the U of A professor of pharmacology.

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain where information from our senses is combined with our memories and experiences.

When you see a car, its just a carunless you were previously T-boned by a red convertible. Then, thanks to your amygdala, that red convertible will elicit negative feelings in you, explained Colmers.

We see abnormal functioning in the amygdala in individuals who suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Its an interesting part of the brain thats responsible for many essential processes, and its where we see the NPY and CRF in action.

In previous research, Colmers team showed that NPY reduced anxiety in rats. Repeated exposure to NPY made the animals more resilient to stress for weeks or even months, and the team was able to identify the exact mechanism that elicits this response.

Building on this research, Colmers team observed that the bodys ability to react to a stress or threat is the result of CRF increasing the number and length of dendrites (or branches) found in neurons located in the amygdala. The lengthening and expansion of the neural network allows the brain to increase its signalling power and trigger the rest of the body to get ready to respond.

But the longer and more often our brains are in hyperdrive, which makes us feel anxious, the more difficult it is to get back to a healthy state.

Because its harmful for our bodies to be in this amped-up state for too long, NPY is normally released in our brains once the perceived threat has passed.

The NPY has the opposite effect of CRF and reduces or shrinks the number and length of the dendrites, effectively telling the brain to stand down from the alert and let the body relax.

Colmers research also revealed that one of the first steps in getting back to this relaxed state begins when NPY binds with the Y5 receptor, which occurs on the surface of a neuron. This binding activates the pathway that reconfigures the dendrites. According to Colmers, understanding each step in the pathway is important because each represents a potential target for drug development.

My research areas have varied throughout my career and included anxiety, obesity, cachexia and energy balance. However, the common thread that has run through all of it is my friend neuropeptide Y, said Colmers.

While we definitely answered some of our questions with this latest study, it also revealed new questions, as the work was only conducted in male rats. The very important next question is whether this works the same in females.

Colmers, a member of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, and his collaborator Janice Urban from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, published the study, Contribution of NPY Y5 Receptors to the Reversible Structural Remodeling of Basolateral Amygdala Dendrites in Male Rats Associated With NPY-Mediated Stress Resilience, in The Journal of Neuroscience.

The research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the University Hospital Foundation. Trainees were funded by Alberta Innovates and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Colmers was a medical scientist with the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research at the time.

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Chemical messenger in brain could point to better treatments for anxiety - Folio - University of Alberta

Neuroscience

Kali Ladd’s Powerful Words on the Protests in Portland – Portland Monthly

Editors Note: On Sunday, May 31, Kali Ladd, Executive Director of Kairos Pdx, spoke at SEI along with other community leaders about the ongoing protests in Portland over the killing of George Floyd. With permission, we're running thistranscript of her speech to the city.

Good afternoon,

As I thought about my remarks this morning, all I could see was my children. My 8-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. The wondering of what does all of this look like through their eyes? I see their beauty and innocence, their intellect and brilliance, and wonder how the world will snatch it away from them. And then my head begins to spin.

You see, because Ive devoted my life and career to children, I am always palpably aware of their presence. I know they are watching what we do, and what we dont do. Watching what we say, and what we dont say. Every moment is instructive. They are listening for something, and if they only hear silence their heads are filled with noise. And this noise can be fear, this noise can be depression, this noise can be complacency, the noise can be grief.

And while I dont condone the looting and vandalism, I know that it is a symptom, not the problem. I know it personifies how I feel inside and I wonder if its not an opportunity to help my children see this too. That as wrong as it may be, it is a symbol of our shattering, our devastation, and our internal beating every time we see a life lost like George Floyd.

George Floyd called out to his mother. His cry reaches the heart of all of us moms. We see our sons and our daughters and we are in shambles.

But I think there is hope. I think there is hope because I come from a people who carry hope across generations. A people who despite devastation and terrorization and oppression have written spirituals that lift this whole nation up in hope. A people that have strengthened the fiber of our being even when forces are taking away our breath.

I also think there is hope because I study neuroscience and psychology and child development and these things tell us we can create a new narrative. But as mothers and fathers and educators we need to be intentional. This does not happen by chance.

Our brains are incredible, miraculous things that can be wired and rewired by our words and our actions. They call it neuroplasticity.

The science tells us that children are not born hating other children or rendering certain people invisible. This happens over time. You see every circumstance is a data point that forms an idea. Watching that black boy in pre-school get kicked out of class repeatedly is a data point, pretending as though the founding of this country did not come at the hands of genocide is a data point, silence in the aftermath of a killing is a data point.

And these data points form ideas. And these ideas begin to cluster and form schema. And this schema dictates behavior.

We are developing racist schema and reinforcing racist ideas in the minds of our children when we fail to talk to them about racism. When we fail to tell the truth about history. When we fail to point out injustice whether its overt or covert.

You see, when we put children at the center of our lives, our comfort or discomfort become less and less important. Our words today can save lives tomorrow. Our children are the souls we will send into a time we will likely never see.

Because when were stressed, whats inside of us, come out. When Amy verbally attacked Mr. Cooper watching birds in central park, what was inside of her came out. Let this be a warning to us all.

But what was inside of Mr. Cooper also came out. Let him be an example of what happens when we build in our children the moral character of calm, grace and forgiveness even amidst our lives being threatened.

The neuroscience and social science tell us that diversity matters. As human beings we dehumanize what we dont know; we fear what we dont understand. Our brains will rely on data derived by soundbites and stereotypes instead of facts when we don't have real people of different races and backgrounds in our lives.

Toya Fick wrote an op-ed in yesterdays Oregonianabout the importance of retaining teachers of color. So well timed. because this is something we can do now. This is a way to actively combat racialized violence. When we do this, we make our schools safer for our black and brown children. We break down fear for our white children. And collectively our children get one step closer to seeing the humanity of another.

This is everything because I believe that when a white child can see the humanity of my black son, it becomes that much harder to crush him with their knees. Diversity is not just anti-racist, its humane.

The list can go and on, but I will stop here. Let there be no question that there is something we can do right here and right now to change the course of history. It lies with our children. It lies with the roadmap we are building in their brains. It lies in the ways that we wire and reinforce their wiring.

We are giving them the data that informs their schema with the words we use or dont; the care we give or withhold and the people they see or dont. Every. Sing. Day. I cant think of any greater light in the darkness than them.

Lets collectively illuminate these lights, strengthen them to understand the tenuous tentacles of racism so they can dismantle them. Let us collectively seek to build strong and resilient children rather than repair broken adults. Love them, love them, love themespecially our black boysso they are resilient and strong in the face oppression. Do not dismiss them or their pain and dont exacerbate it. Talk up and not down to them. Collectively lets do what it takes to build in our children, a foundation that can effectively disrupt the patterns of injustice and destroy the stronghold of hatred that brings us all here today. Children are not just our future, I really do believe. they are our greatest hope.

Read Ladd's essay from our February 2020 issue here:Black Girls Matter: Navigating Portlands Systemic Racism as a Parent of Daughters

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Kali Ladd's Powerful Words on the Protests in Portland - Portland Monthly

Genetics

Highlighting Cancer Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Genetics in Cancer Treatment – Pharmacy Times

The key components for cancer risk, genetics, and prevention include application of results, indications for germline testing, and testing updates, according to a session presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Virtual Scientific Program.

Providing quality of care in a field of cancer risk, genetics, and prevention revolves around 3 essential interdependent components, said presenter Erin Wysong Hofstatter, MD.

Germline TestingIn the study, the researchers wanted to assess the clinical utility of identifying germline alterations in cancer susceptibility genes for targeted therapeutic interventions in a pan-cancer patient population.

By using a subset of pan-cancer MSK-IMPACT patients who consented to additional germline testing, 88 genes were analyzed in addition to a medical record review of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) patients to assess use of targeted treatment. Out of 11,974 patients between 2015 and 2019, 7.1% harbored a P/LP alteration in a targetable gene. Meanwhile, 44.4% of patients received targeted therapy based on germline results. Overall, 58.1% of Lynch patients received therapy irrespective of microsatellite instability status.

Our study represents the first comprehensive assessment of the clinical utility of germline variants for targeted therapeutic interventions in advanced cancer patients, Hofstatter said.

When it comes to the emerging indication for germline testing, this is equivalent to selecting cancer treatment in the advanced setting, she noted.

Know your test, Hofstatter said. Tumor sequencing is not a substitute for comprehensive germline testing.

Testing UptakeIn testing uptake, germline genetic testing among patients, both affected and unaffected, remains poor, according to Hofstatter. Only 30% of an estimated 35,0000 BRCA-positive cancer patients have been diagnosed with a genetic mutation, and up to 98% of Lynch carriers have yet to be identified, Hofstatter said.

Barriers in genetic testing uptake for the patient and provider include lack of knowledge, cost, and fear of discrimination. The next 2 abstracts detailed by Hofstatter were done to evaluate the completion of video-education (VE) or in-person pretest genetic counseling (GC) over time by a randomization arm and to test whether pre and/or post-test GC is needed to optimally deliver online accessible genetic testing.

The first abstract found that there was a high uptake of intervention in both GC and VE and a high completion of genetic testing with no difference by arm. Meanwhile, the second abstract found that the completion rate was highest in the 2 arms with no pre-test counseling, with support of the use of a genetic testing paradigm providing individualized post-test genetic counseling only for patients with positive results and for those patients who request additional counseling.

Application of ResultsMost genetic testing for cancer susceptibility is done using multigene panels, according to Hofstatter. The identification of pathogenic variants (PV) with a risk of ovarian cancer is > 5%.

Variants of uncertain significance should not be used to alter medical management recommendations, and PV in other genes are not associated with a risk of OC >5%, Hofstatter said.

The aim of the last abstract was to help describe the use of preventive, or risk-reducing, salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) among individuals with different test results and how use varies across personal and family history. The study found that the majority of patients reported that RRSO was either recommended or discussed as an option by their provider. Additionally, further data are needed on communication between patients and providers regarding the implications of genetic information and management options.

Hofstatter concluded that the 3 key components to provide quality care in the field each are important for patients with cancer and are actionable points to make. For example, in terms of germline genetics, understanding the germline component of tumor testing of choice can truly affect cancer treatment.

For pre-test video counseling, this type of testing is feasible and acceptable to patients, with the help of a local GC team.

Ask yourself: how might this enhance testing uptake in your practice? Hofstatter said.

Lastly, Hofstatter emphasized that individual management must be based on accurate risk assessment.

There is a responsibility of the provider to understand the implications of testing results, whether positive or not, Hofstatter said. Stay updated by reviewing NCCN guidelines, ASCO guidelines, and watching the ASCO Annual meeting.

REFERENCEHofstatter, EW. Cancer prevention, risk reduction, and genetics. 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program.

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Highlighting Cancer Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Genetics in Cancer Treatment - Pharmacy Times

Genetics

REPEAT/Halo Labs Announces Partnership with Zkittlez Providing Award Winning Genetics in Oregon – Financial Post

All Figures in USD

Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Servicers or For Dissemination in the United States

TORONTO Halo Labs Inc. (Halo or the Company) (NEO: HALO, OTCQX: AGEEF, Germany: A9KN) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an exclusive strategic partnership with Terphogz, LLC (Zkittlez) to develop and commercialize new and unique cannabis genetics in Oregon.

Background & Partnership Highlights

Terphogz, LLC owns a genetic library that is well-known for creating the famous Zkittlez cannabis variety. Zkittlez has a unique and distinct terpene profile unlike other genetics in the market, making it distinguishable from other strains. Halo has secured a 5-year exclusive partnership with Zkittlez in Oregon to cultivate the groups strains and provide this beloved brand to the Oregon marketplace and consumers for the first time.

Halo will license and have exclusive rights to a large repertoire of genetic strains, most notably Zkittlez, Zmoothi and Z3 Kush. Focusing on the whole plant, Zkittlez has proven that THC alone cant compete with robust and unique terpene profiles. Highly awarded and recognized, the strains will allow Halo develop more brand and retail focused products aligning with the Companys long term growth strategy. With over 200,000 followers on social media and a history of excellence in cannabis genetics, Zkittlez provides extensive value to Halos already strong portfolio of cannabis consumer-centric partnerships.

We are extremely excited to join forces with Halo. With our award-winning genetics and Halos cultivation firepower, our collaboration will be a force to be reckoned with in Oregon. Stay tuned, we cant wait to get to work! comments Green R. Fieldz, CEO of Terphogz, LLC.

Kiran Sidhu CEO and Co-Founder of Halo commented, We are pleased to be partnering with Terphogz, LLC in Oregon to build a new branded product line of flower, pre-rolls and concentrates. Aligning with a beloved and Emerald Cup award winning brand such as Zkittlez to cultivate existing and develop new cannabis strains demonstrates Halos commitment to offering cannabis consumers access to some of the best genetics. We expect to do more projects with the Terphogz, LLC team and expand the partnership into additional markets.

About Halo

Halo is a leading cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution company that grows and extracts and processes quality cannabis flower, oils, and concentrates and has sold over 5 million grams of oils and concentrates since inception. Additionally, Halo has continued to evolve its business through delivering value with its products and now via verticalization in key markets in the United States and Africa with planned expansion into European and Canadian markets. With a consumer-centric focus, Halo markets innovative, branded, and private label products across multiple product categories.

Recently, the Company entered into binding agreements to acquire a dispensary in Los Angeles, 3 KushBar branded dispensaries, 5 development permits in Alberta Canada, and Canmart Limited which holds wholesale distribution and special licenses allowing the import and distribution of cannabis based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) in the United Kingdom. Halo is led by a strong, diverse management team with deep industry knowledge and blue-chip experience. The Company is currently operating in the United States in California, Oregon, and Nevada while having an international presence in Lesotho within a planned 200-hectare cultivation zone via Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness (Pty) Ltd. as well as planned importation and distribution in the United Kingdom via Canmart.

For further information regarding Halo, see Halos disclosure documents on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Halos beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Halos control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, will continue, will occur or will be achieved. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but are not limited to, statements in respect of the Companys license arrangement with Terphogz, LLC and the cultivation, sale and distribution of Zkittlez branded and other products by the Company.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Halo is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Halo has made certain assumptions. Although Halo believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Among others, the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: unexpected costs or delays in the completion of the Companys proposed dispensaries and other operation; negative results experienced by the Company as a result of general economic conditions or the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; delays in the ability of the Company to obtain certain regulatory approvals; unforeseen delays or costs in the completion of the Companys construction projects; adverse changes to demand for cannabis products; ongoing projects by competitors that may impact the relative size of the Companys growing operation; adverse changes in applicable laws; adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws, including those related to taxation; increasing costs of compliance with extensive government regulation; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; risks related to licensing, including the ability to obtain the requisite licenses or renew existing licenses for the Companys proposed operations; dependence upon third party service providers, skilled labor and other key inputs; and the other risks disclosed in the Companys annual information form dated April 16, 2020 and available on the Companys profile at http://www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Halo does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Halo or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200604005237/en/

Contacts

Halo Labs Investor Relations info@halocanna.com

#distro

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REPEAT/Halo Labs Announces Partnership with Zkittlez Providing Award Winning Genetics in Oregon - Financial Post

Genetics

The Genetics of Cancer – Technology Networks

InfographicJun 02, 2020| By Molly Campbell and Laura Elizabeth Lansdowne, Science Writers, Technology Networks.

Cancer is the term used to describe an incredibly complex group of diseases, caused by changes to the genes in one cell or a group of cells. These genetic alternations disrupt the normal functioning of the cell/s giving rise to several phenotypic changes or hallmarks that distinguish them from healthy cells in the body.

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The Genetics of Cancer - Technology Networks

Genetics

Halo Labs Announces Partnership with Zkittlez Providing Award Winning Genetics in Oregon – Business Wire

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Halo Labs Inc. ("Halo" or the "Company") (NEO: HALO, OTCQX: AGEEF, Germany: A9KN) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an exclusive strategic partnership with Terphogz, LLC (Zkittlez) to develop and commercialize new and unique cannabis genetics in Oregon.

Background & Partnership Highlights

Terphogz, LLC owns a genetic library that is well-known for creating the famous Zkittlez cannabis variety. Zkittlez has a unique and distinct terpene profile unlike other genetics in the market, making it distinguishable from other strains. Halo has secured a 5-year exclusive partnership with Zkittlez in Oregon to cultivate the groups strains and provide this beloved brand to the Oregon marketplace and consumers for the first time.

Halo will license and have exclusive rights to a large repertoire of genetic strains, most notably Zkittlez, Zmoothi and Z3 Kush. Focusing on the whole plant, Zkittlez has proven that THC alone cant compete with robust and unique terpene profiles. Highly awarded and recognized, the strains will allow Halo develop more brand and retail focused products aligning with the Companys long term growth strategy. With over 200,000 followers on social media and a history of excellence in cannabis genetics, Zkittlez provides extensive value to Halos already strong portfolio of cannabis consumer-centric partnerships.

We are extremely excited to join forces with Halo. With our award-winning genetics and Halo's cultivation firepower, our collaboration will be a force to be reckoned with in Oregon. Stay tuned, we can't wait to get to work!" comments Green R. Fieldz, CEO of Terphogz, LLC.

Kiran Sidhu CEO and Co-Founder of Halo commented, We are pleased to be partnering with Terphogz, LLC in Oregon to build a new branded product line of flower, pre-rolls and concentrates. Aligning with a beloved and Emerald Cup award winning brand such as Zkittlez to cultivate existing and develop new cannabis strains demonstrates Halos commitment to offering cannabis consumers access to some of the best genetics. We expect to do more projects with the Terphogz, LLC team and expand the partnership into additional markets.

About Halo

Halo is a leading cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution company that grows and extracts and processes quality cannabis flower, oils, and concentrates and has sold over 5 million grams of oils and concentrates since inception. Additionally, Halo has continued to evolve its business through delivering value with its products and now via verticalization in key markets in the United States and Africa with planned expansion into European and Canadian markets. With a consumer-centric focus, Halo markets innovative, branded, and private label products across multiple product categories.

Recently, the Company entered into binding agreements to acquire a dispensary in Los Angeles, 3 KushBar branded dispensaries, 5 development permits in Alberta Canada, and Canmart Limited which holds wholesale distribution and special licenses allowing the import and distribution of cannabis based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) in the United Kingdom. Halo is led by a strong, diverse management team with deep industry knowledge and blue-chip experience. The Company is currently operating in the United States in California, Oregon, and Nevada while having an international presence in Lesotho within a planned 200-hectare cultivation zone via Bophelo Bioscience & Wellness (Pty) Ltd. as well as planned importation and distribution in the United Kingdom via Canmart.

For further information regarding Halo, see Halos disclosure documents on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Halos beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Halos control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but are not limited to, statements in respect of the Companys license arrangement with Terphogz, LLC and the cultivation, sale and distribution of Zkittlez branded and other products by the Company.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Halo is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Halo has made certain assumptions. Although Halo believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Among others, the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: unexpected costs or delays in the completion of the Company's proposed dispensaries and other operation; negative results experienced by the Company as a result of general economic conditions or the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; delays in the ability of the Company to obtain certain regulatory approvals; unforeseen delays or costs in the completion of the Company's construction projects; adverse changes to demand for cannabis products; ongoing projects by competitors that may impact the relative size of the Companys growing operation; adverse changes in applicable laws; adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws, including those related to taxation; increasing costs of compliance with extensive government regulation; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; risks related to licensing, including the ability to obtain the requisite licenses or renew existing licenses for the Company's proposed operations; dependence upon third party service providers, skilled labor and other key inputs; and the other risks disclosed in the Company's annual information form dated April 16, 2020 and available on the Companys profile at http://www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Halo does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Halo or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

Excerpt from:
Halo Labs Announces Partnership with Zkittlez Providing Award Winning Genetics in Oregon - Business Wire

Genetics

Rocket, arugula, rucola: how genetics determines the health benefits and whether you like this leafy green – The Conversation UK

Love it or hate it, rocket is popular all over the world. Also known as arugula, roquette and rucola, its known for its pungent and peppery flavours. It might look like an unassuming leafy vegetable, but the reasons for its taste, health benefits and whether we like it all comes down to genetics.

Rocket actually encompasses several species, all of them part of the same family as broccoli, cabbage, kale, mustard and watercress the Brassicales. Its distinctive aroma and flavours are created by chemical compounds produced by its leaves, called isothiocyanates. Some of these compounds can be eye-wateringly hot, whereas others can have a radishy flavour or none at all.

In the wild, isothiocyanates are thought to help defend plants from herbivores and disease, and also help it tolerate environmental stress. But for humans, eating isothiocyanates confers health benefits. Studies have shown them to have anti-cancer properties, and anti-neurodegenerative effects against diseases such as Alzheimers.

For this reason, plants containing isothiocyanates interest scientists particularly those with little taste and flavour. One such compound is sulforaphane, which is found in rocket and broccoli. Several years ago, researchers produced a super broccoli with high amounts of sulforaphane. Consumers couldnt taste the difference, and it was later shown to be effective in preventing and slowing prostate cancer and in lowering cholesterol.

But one advantage with rocket is that it doesnt need cooked to be eaten. Heating other Brassicales, like broccoli, to over 65 inactivates myrosinase, which is an enzyme in their tissues that converts compounds called glucosinolates into sulforaphane and other isothiocyanates when people chew these plants. If the myrosinae is inactivated, consumers will receive little or none of the associated health benefits, no matter how much are bred into the plants.

Chewing aside, theres some evidence to suggest that our gut microflora possess their own myrosinase and can convert glucosinolates to isothiocyanates for us. The amounts this produces are likely to be quite small, but release may be sustained, exposing our cells to compounds like sulforaphane for longer periods.

But the biggest barrier to people getting these beneficial molecules from rocket is the taste. This depends on when and where rocket crops are grown. In the summer, leaves can be extremely spicy and pungent, whereas in the winter they can be bland and tasteless.

Growth temperature likely plays a big role in determining the amounts of isothiocyanates released from leaves. Probably a stress response by the plants, it means hotter countries like Italy may produce more pungent leaves.

You can test this effect at home. Get two small pots and some rocket seeds from a local garden centre or supermarket. Plant two or three seeds in each. Keep one well watered and relatively shaded, and the other in direct sunlight, watering infrequently. After a few weeks, taste the leaves from each pot one should taste much hotter.

The taste and flavour of rocket also varies because of the genetics of different varieties. Not only do leaves contain hot, pungent isothiocyanates, but also sugars (which create sweetness); pyrazines (which can smell earthy and pea-like); aldehydes (which smell like grass); alcohols (one in particular smells just like mushrooms); and many other types yet to be identified.

Recently, the worlds first rocket genome and transcriptome sequence was produced from the Eruca sativa species, allowing researchers to understand which genes may be responsible for making the compounds related to taste and flavour. Its genome contains up to 45,000 genes, which is more than the 42,611 genes humans are thought to have.

The research also found that different varieties produce more isothiocyanates and sugars than others. This explains why leaves can taste so different in the supermarket, even when bought from the same shop at the same time of the year. By knowing which genes are expressed in tissues and when, we can select rocket plants with improved taste and flavour profiles and breed new and improved cultivars.

To further complicate matters, our own genetics mean we dont all taste chemical compounds the same. We have many thousands of different odour receptors in our brains, and many different combinations of taste receptors on our tongues. These genetic differences are one of the reasons why coriander tastes different to different people. Those with a variant of the OR6A2 gene perceive the leaves as having a soapy flavour, which is thanks to the aldehyde compounds in coriander that activate this receptor variant.

Depending on whether you have a functioning or non-functioning copy of certain taste receptor genes, you may not be able to taste certain compounds at all. In the other extreme, if you have two working copies of a particular gene, some foods may taste unbearably bitter and unpleasant.

Another classic example is Brussels sprouts. Some people love them, while others loathe them. This is because of the gene TAS2R38 which gives us the ability to taste the bitter glucosinolate compounds in these vegetables as well as rocket.

Those people with two working copies of the gene are bitter supertasters. People with only one are medium tasters, while those with no working copies are blind to these compounds. So what is intense and inedible to one person might be pleasant and mild to another.

This partly explains peoples general food preferences and rocket leaves are an excellent example of these processes in action. A consumer study of rocket leaves showed that some people like them hot and pungent, others like them sweet and mild, and others just dont like them at all.

However, peoples culture and life experience probably also determine whether they like rocket and other foods. A previous study of rocket showed that peoples genetic differences are not necessarily an indicator of whether they will like something. Its perfectly possible to be a bitter supertaster and like rocket and Brussels sprouts depending on your upbringing and exposure to them.

Another study showed that preference for flavour and pungency of white radish is linked to differences in geography and culture. Japanese and Korean people liked pungency created by an isothiocyanate much more than Australians. Pickled radish is a common condiment in Asian countries: being regularly exposed to a food may predispose people to like it, irrespective of their taste sensitivity.

Very little is currently known about the interactions between plant and human genotypes. But ongoing research aims to find out which compounds people with different TAS2R38 genotypes are sensitive to. This will make it possible in the future to selectively breed in (or out) certain genes, and produce rocket types tailored to a persons preferences.

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Rocket, arugula, rucola: how genetics determines the health benefits and whether you like this leafy green - The Conversation UK

Genetics

Myriad Genetics Announces Publication of a Prospective Clinical Study of the EndoPredict Test in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer – GlobeNewswire

SALT LAKE CITY, June 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN, Myriad or the Company), a global leader in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine, today announced the publication of a prospective study demonstrating that the EndoPredict test predicts which patients with ER+, HER2- early-stage breast cancer will benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. The article titled, The EndoPredict score predicts response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and neoendocrine therapy in hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer patients from the ABCSG-34 trial, appeared online in theEuropean Journal of Cancer.

This study demonstrated that the EndoPredict (EP) test predicted response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in women with ER+, HER2 negative early-stage breast cancer, said Peter Dubsky, M.D., lead author, speaking on behalf of the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG). Based on these findings and prior studies, we are confident the EndoPredict test can add valuable information to aid in personalized treatment selection in neoadjuvant therapy and provides an important basis for future design of neoadjuvant clinical trials.

The primary objective of this prospective study was to test the predictive value of the EndoPredict test regarding tumor response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NaCT) or neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) within the ABCSG-34 trial. The analysis included data from 217 women with HR+ breast cancer. Of these, 134 patients were assigned to receive NaCT (eight cycles of anthracycline/taxane) according to aggressive clinico-pathologic tumor features. The remaining 83 patients were clinically identified as having luminal A-like types of breast cancer and were assigned to receive NET (six months of letrozole). The primary endpoint was residual cancer burden RCB0/I (i.e., good tumor response) vs. RCB II/III (i.e., poor tumor response) at time of surgery.

In the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, 125 patients had high EP scores and nine had a low EP score. The results show that 26.4 percent of those with a high score showed a good tumor response (RCB0/I) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while all patients with a low score showed only a poor tumor response (Table 1). In the luminal A group receiving neoendocrine therapy, 39 patients had a high EP score and 44 had a low EP score. The results show that 27.3 percent of those with a low EndoPredict score and 7.7 percent with a high score achieved excellent tumor response (RCB0/I) to neoendocrine therapy (Table 1).

EndoPredict Low Score

EndoPredict High Score

0.0

%

26.4

%

p=0.0001

In this prospective study, we demonstrated that the EndoPredict test is a useful tool pre-operatively, said Ralf Kronenwett, M.D., director of International Medical Affairs at Myriad. In two distinct ER-positive, HER2-negative cohorts selected by clinicians to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, EndoPredict identified patients with poor neoadjuvant treatment response. Clinicians can use information to determine who might forgo these therapies prior to surgery.

About EndoPredictEndoPredict is a second-generation, 12-gene molecular prognostic test for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The test provides vital information that helps clinicians devise personalized treatment plans for their patients. EndoPredict has been validated in more than 4,000 patients with node-negative and node-positive cancer and has been used clinically in more than 20,000 patients. In contrast to first-generation multigene prognostic tests, EndoPredict detects the likelihood of late metastases (i.e., metastasis formation after more than five years) and, therefore, can guide treatment decisions regarding the need for chemotherapy, as well as extended anti-hormonal therapy. Accordingly, therapy decisions backed by EndoPredict confer a high level of diagnostic safety. For more information, please visit: http://www.endopredict.com.

About Myriad GeneticsMyriad Genetics Inc., is a leading personalized medicine company dedicated to being a trusted advisor transforming patient lives worldwide with pioneering molecular diagnostics. Myriad discovers and commercializes molecular diagnostic tests that: determine the risk of developing disease, accurately diagnose disease, assess the risk of disease progression, and guide treatment decisions across six major medical specialties where molecular diagnostics can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. Myriad is focused on three strategic imperatives: transitioning and expanding its hereditary cancer testing markets, diversifying its product portfolio through the introduction of new products and increasing the revenue contribution from international markets. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com.

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BART, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, myPath, myRisk, Myriad myRisk, myRisk Hereditary Cancer, myChoice, myPlan, BRACAnalysis CDx, Tumor BRACAnalysis CDx, myChoice CDx, Vectra, Prequel, Foresight, GeneSight, riskScore and Prolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G.

Safe Harbor StatementThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to the EndoPredict test adding valuable information to aid in personalized treatment selection in neoadjuvant therapy and providing an important basis for future design of neoadjuvant clinical trials; and the Company's strategic directives under the caption "About Myriad Genetics." These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: uncertainties associated with COVID-19, including its possible effects on our operations and the demand for our products and services; our ability to efficiently and flexibly manage our business amid uncertainties related to COVID-19; the risk that sales and profit margins of our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services may decline; risks related to our ability to transition from our existing product portfolio to our new tests, including unexpected costs and delays; risks related to decisions or changes in governmental or private insurers reimbursement levels for our tests or our ability to obtain reimbursement for our new tests at comparable levels to our existing tests; risks related to increased competition and the development of new competing tests and services; the risk that we may be unable to develop or achieve commercial success for additional molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that we may not successfully develop new markets for our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services, including our ability to successfully generate revenue outside the United States; the risk that licenses to the technology underlying our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and any future tests and services are terminated or cannot be maintained on satisfactory terms; risks related to delays or other problems with operating our laboratory testing facilities and our healthcare clinic; risks related to public concern over genetic testing in general or our tests in particular; risks related to regulatory requirements or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries and changes in the structure of the healthcare system or healthcare payment systems; risks related to our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations or licenses and acquire new technologies or businesses on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks related to our ability to successfully integrate and derive benefits from any technologies or businesses that we license or acquire; risks related to our projections about our business, results of operations and financial condition; risks related to the potential market opportunity for our products and services; the risk that we or our licensors may be unable to protect or that third parties will infringe the proprietary technologies underlying our tests; the risk of patent-infringement claims or challenges to the validity of our patents or other intellectual property; risks related to changes in intellectual property laws covering our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and patents or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries, such as the Supreme Court decisions in Mayo Collab. Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 566 U.S. 66 (2012), Assn for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., 569 U.S. 576 (2013), and Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Intl, 573 U.S. 208 (2014); risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; the risk that we may be unable to comply with financial operating covenants under our credit or lending agreements; the risk that we will be unable to pay, when due, amounts due under our credit or lending agreements; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

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Myriad Genetics Announces Publication of a Prospective Clinical Study of the EndoPredict Test in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer - GlobeNewswire